Stressing on building Vidyabharti schools in the Northeast, Bhagwat said, “Five years ago, we started a Vidyabharti school in Nagaland.

Instilling a “nationalist pride” in the Northeast is now on top agenda for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, who inaugurated a school, Madhav Vidyapeeth, run by the RSS education wing Vidyabharti in Kakadkui village of Bharuch district on Sunday, said the organisation has to now “spread the feeling of nationalism” in the seven sister states of the Northeast.

Citing the success of Sangh’s five-year-old school in Nagaland in “binding” the people with the country, he said the education wing of the RSS has to now carry forward the work in Northeast.

Stressing on building Vidyabharti schools in the Northeast, Bhagwat said, “Five years ago, we started a Vidyabharti school in Nagaland. Today, the children are speaking in Hindi and we are glad that we have been able to spread the spirit of nationalism there. Tomorrow, they will be fearless and defend every inch of this country. Our vision is not restricted to just these areas. This is our country and we have to be concerned about what is happening here.”

When asked Bhagwat on his thoughts about China’s latest claim to Arunachal Pradesh, he said, “I feel what every Indian feels about this issue. This our country (in entirety) and that is what everyone’s stand should be.”

At the Kakadkui inauguration, a leaflet in Gujarati, distributed to guests and parents of students, stated that it is unfortunate that Vidyabharti has been seen as a “violent” organisation. The leaflet says, “The tribal society is an integral part of the Hindu civilisation. The tribals are devotees of Hindu Gods and they are equal to any other Hindu. They are very straightforward and simple and many people are taking advantage of their lack of knowledge. Vidyabharti is educating tribals to make sure they are aware of what is happening around them. It is unfortunate that people see Vidyabharti as a violent organization. It is untrue. The aim is to educate through the tenets of Hindu way of life.”

The classrooms have been named after Indian mythological characters — Dhruv, Eklavya and Chanakya among others.
At his address to approximately 300 students belonging to tribal families, Bhagwat praised the skills of tribals and said, “When we look at the kind of education today, the picture is not very pleasing. They teach about science and progress, but not about Indian values and nationalism. That is where Vidyabharti has to step in.”